Modular demonstrator

ABSTRACT

A modular demonstrator comprises a base member. A transparent cylindrical tube is supported in substantially upright position by the base member and has a plurality of bores formed therethrough at different points thereof and a plurality of petcocks. Each of the petcocks is accommodated in a corresponding one of the bores. The tube has a predetermined diameter and a volume of water therein. A substantially pressure-tight cover is provided on the open end of the tube. A variable pressure device selectively varies the pressure of air over the volume of water in the tube. A pressure-sensitive capsule of smaller diameter than the tube and having a volume of dyed water therein freely floats in the water in the tube.

1 1 Apr. 22, 1975 1 1 .MODULAR DEMONSTRATOR [75] Inventor: Victor A.DeFelice, Brockton, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

Inc., New York, N.Y.; a part interest 22 Filed: Oct. 15.1973

21 Appl. No.: 406,491

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Stansi Scientific Division Catalog, Rec'd Feb. 1969,page 136 only.

Cenco 1969 Educational Catalog, page 57 only.

Knott Apparatus Co., Catalogue Scientific lnstruments 1916. page 136only.

Primary E.\'uminerHarland S. Skogquist Attorney. Agent, or Firm-DanielJay Tick 1 1 ABSTRACT A modular demonstrator comprises a base member. Atransparent cylindrical tube is supported in substantially uprightposition by the base member and has a plurality of bores formedtherethrough at different points thereof and a plurality of petcocks.Each of the petcocks is accommodated in a corresponding one of thebores. The tube has a predetermined diameter and a volume of watertherein. A substantially pressuretight cover is provided on the open endof the tube. A variable pressure device selectively varies the pressureof air over the volume of water in the tube. A pressure-sensitivecapsule of smaller diameter than the tube and having a volume of dyedwater therein freely floats in the water in the tube.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MODULAR DEMONSTRATOR DESCRIPTION OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a modular demonstrator.

Objects of the invention are to provide a modular demonstrator of simplestructure. which is inexpensive in manufacture and which may be utilizedwith facility. convenience. simplicity and comfort to illustrate severalscientific phenomena with accuracy. clarity and precision.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect. it willnow be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the modulardemonstrator of the invention:

FIG. 2 is a top view ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1: and

FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the pressuresensitive capsule ofthe modular demonstrator of the invention.

In the FIGS. the same components are identified by the same referencenumerals.

The modular demonstrator of the invention comprises a base member 1(FIG. 1). A transparent cylindrical tube 2 (FIG. 1) is supported insubstantially upright position by the base member 1. The tube 2 has aplurality of bores formed therethrough at different points thereof. Eachof a plurality of petcocks 3. 4 and 5 (FIG. 1 is accommodated in acorresponding one of the bores. The tube 2 has a predetermined diameterD and a volume of water 6 therein (FIG. I).

A substantially pressure-tight cover 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided onthe open end 8 of the tube 2. This may be accomplished by a flange 9 onthe top of the tube 2 having a plurality of bolts extending uprighttherefrom. A gasket 10 is provided on the flange 9. The cover has aplurality of holes 11, and so on. formed therethrough through which thecorresponding bolts 12, and so on. pass. Nuts 13. and so on. hold downthe cover 7 by being threadedly coupled to the corresponding bolts 12.and so on.

A variable pressure device selectively varies the pressure ofair overthe volume of water 6 in the tube 2. The variable pressure devicecomprises a substantially flexible air tube 14 (FIG. 1) affixed at oneend 15 to a petcock 3 over the volume of water 6 in the tube 2. Aflexible bulb I6 is affixed to the other end 17 of the air tube 14 (FIG.1). A combined pressure-vacuum hand pump is preferably used instead ofthe flexible bulb 16.

A pressure-sensitive capsule 18 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of smaller diameter 1than the tube 2 has a volume 19 of dyed water therein (FIG. 3). Thecapsule 18 floats freely in the water 6 in the tube 2. In a preferredembodiment of the invention. the capsule 18 comprises an inverted testtube having a membrance 20 (FIG. 3) affixed over and sealing its openmouth. A combined pressure-vacuum gage is mounted at the top of the unit(not shown in the FIGS).

A saftey valve 21 may be provided in the cover 7.

When the bulb 16 is squeezed. the pressure of air above the water 6 inthe tube 2, and the pressure of such water. increases. The increase inpressure is transmitted to the capsule 18 and decreases the volume ofthe air pocket 22 over the volume of water 19 therein in volume. causingthe capsule to descend. When the bulb 16 is released. the capsule 18commences to ascend andmay be held at any desired depth-Generalapplications of the modular demonstrator of the invention are as apressurized unit. a partial vacuum unit. a container for selected gas orfluid mixtures and as a large graduate for group demonstrations.

Among the several phenomena which may be demonstrated by thedemonstrator of the invention are the Cartesian diver, Boyles law,Charles law, cloud and fog synthesis. slow oxidation as an indication ofoxygen in the atmosphere. atmospheric temperature inversions.atmospheric greenhouse effect. mass versus acceleration due to gravityand Mariotte's bottle or water pressure versus depth.

Cartesian Diver Unit. Relates to Archimedes principle of buoyancy.Pascals principle of hydraulics. and Boyle's law of gas elasticity.

1. Remove top; close bottom and middle nozzles: open top nozzle.

2. Fill with water to a level which. when floating the diver. is aboutone-quarter inch below the top nozzle hole. The density of the water issignificantthe temperature should be about room temperature when doingthis activity.

3. Use commerical Cartesian diver or a large testtube containing dyedwater and whose mouth is sealed by a thin rubber diaphragm with anelastic. Adjust the amount of water in the diver so it just floats.

4. Attach the pressure-bulb to top nozzle.

5. Place diver in water; seal top.

6. Slow. gentle pressure will cause diver to submerge to any depth;release to make diver rise. Quick. forceful pressure is not desirable.

Water Vapour Cloud Maker. Instantly makes an actual. white cloud ofwater vapor exactly as occurs in nature. by depressurizing a saturatedparcel of air. Cloud maker relates to meterology. nature of cloud andfog formation. nature of super-saturation. nature of evaporation andcondensation. nuclei of condesation. latent heat, and the Kinetic Theoryof Gases and Heat. Cloud and Fog Formation I. Add about one half inch ofcold water to unit; seal top.

2. Close top and middle nozzles; open bottom nozzle and attach vacuumpump and slightly evacuate.

3. Hold a cigarette or smoldering cloth near a nozzle as it is openedand allow a small quantity of smoke to draw in. This will act as nucleiof condensation.

4. Make sure top and middle nozzles are shut; switch to the pressurepump and pressurize to 3 or 5 PSI and shake the unit gently a few times.

5. Repeat process of alternately shaking and gradually pressurizinguntil about 10 PSI is attained.

6. Depressurize rapidly by opening a nozzle; a cloud appears.

7. Shut nozzle and pressurize until cloud disappears.

8. By alternately depressurizing and pressurizing unit. the cloud can bemade to appear and disappear.

Greenhouse Effect Demonstrator. Relates to nature of light and heatwaves. heat transfer: is analogous to earths own heating system; raisesprobing questions concerning consequences of atmospheric pollution.Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect 1. Place a dark piece ofpaper on bottom.inside unit; place a thermometer upon the paper.

2. Close all nozzles and seal top.

3. Place a similar paper with thermometer near the Modular Demonstratorunit.

4. Shine lights of equal intensity upon both the inside and outsidethermometers, for a least 10-15 minutes.

5. The temperature inside the cylinder becomes con siderably higher eventhough both thermometers received equal light.

6. Relate to greenhouse effect of atmosphere and make an analogy betweentransparent plastic of unit and gases such as carbon dioxide and watervapor in atmosphere.

7. Experiment with higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the unit andrelate to possible consequences of pollution to earths weather andclimates. Atmospheric Temperature inversions 1. Remove top; close bottomnozzle; open middle nozzle.

2. Fill with warm water to level about one-fourth inch below middlenozzle.

3. Attach a rubber tube to nozzle and very gently exhale a few mouthsfulof cigarette smoke through the tube.

4. Close nozzle and note the time required for most of the smoke orpollution to disperse.

5. Repeat procedure using ice water and allowing about 10 minutes for acold air mass to form over the ice water.

6. Then admit the smoke gently; note how much longer the smoke lingerswithin cold air.

Falling Bodies and Acceleration Versus Mass in Ordinary and VacuumConditions 1. Place a feather inside the unit.

2. Seal top; flip unit upside down and note time required for feather toflutter down. Repeat several times.

3. Shut top and middle nozzles: open bottom nozzle and attach vacuumpump.

4. Evacuate to 25 on vacuum gauge; close nozzle; detach pump.

5. Now flip unit upside down and note time required for the feather tofall. Relate to acceleration of falling bodies in a vacuum. and in airwhere there is wind resistance.

Special Environment Container. May be used as an air-tight. water-tightcontainer of special environments such as (a) aerobic (b) anaerobic (c)partial vacuum (d) moderate high pressure (e) various-compositiongaseous atmospheres (f) marine or aquatic (g) pollution-inducedenvironments for ecology studies.

Sedimentation Column. Relates to earth science; the nature and cause ofsedimentary rock layers (strata) and their texture; illustrates naturalsorting and stratification of elastic sediments into distinct layers(coarse sediment at bottom. successively finer layers above) when mixedsediment is carried by streams and rivers into a body of water.

Comparative Density Demonstrator. Different colored liquids of unlikedensities, when poured into the cylinder. will arrange themselvesgraphically into distinct layers. with most dense layers at bottom andsuccessively lighter densities above. Relates to nature of density andspecific gravity.

Ocean Current Demonstrator. lf blue dyed cold water is poured carefullyinto the cylinder containing red dyed warm water. the cold water will beseen to sink and collect at the bottom-analogous to oceanic densitycurrents and Polar Creep" of cold polar water along earth's oceanfloors.

Demonstrator of Indicator Theory of Acids and Bases. Relates tochemistry; using chemicals to make a solution in the cylinder. thesolution itself will graphically turn different colors suddenly by theaddition of a few drops of certain chemicals. indicating an acidic orbasis solution.

Demonstrator of Nature of Mixtures and Emulsions. An unstable oil-watermixture will suddenly change into a stable oil-water emulsion with theaddition of a few drops of detergent. Relates to nature of mixtures,emulsions. detergent.

Expanding and Contracting Balloon Demonstration.

A balloon placed in cylinder can be made to expand as a vacuum isproduced or contract under pressure-relates to Charless law and Boyleslaw. Both laws can also be graphically demonstrated by attaching a tubefrom nipple of cylinder to a ready-made. openended manometer and havingseveral students place their warm hands upon the closed cylinder.causing slight expansion of the air in the cylinder and subsequentchange in water levels in the manometer. Boyles Law Relationship forGases. Pressure Versus Volume 1. Place a small inflated balloon having adiameter of 3 to 4 inches into empty unit.

2. Seal top; closed top and middle nozzles.

3. Attach vacuum or pressure pump to opened bottom nozzle.

4. Pressurizing unit causes balloon to contract; depressuring orevacuating unit causes balloon to expand. Charles Law Relationship forGases. Temperature Versus Volume 1. Seal empty unit.

2. Close top and middle nozzles; open bottom nozzle.

3. Attach a tube from bottom nozzle to an open manometer or U-tubecontaining dyed water for easy visibility.

4. Four or five people place their warm hands upon the ModularDemonstrator. In a minute or two. the heat will cause expansion of airand will register as pressure by changing the water levels in themanometer.

5. Demonstrate contraction due to cold by placing a moist paper towelaround the cylinder and fanning it a minute or two. The manometer willindicate a small vacuum, since evaporation is a cooling process.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific exampleand in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto. forobvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Air

1. Place about one-half inch cool water into unit; stuff a handful ortwo of moistened steel wool over the water.

2. Close top and middle nozzles; seal top.

3. Open bottom nozzle and attach to an open manometer containing dyedwater for visibility.

4. A partial vacuum will gradually form as oxidation occurs and theoxygen in the air combines with the steel; a change in manometer levelindicating vacuum will result.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific exampleand in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto. forobvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

Slow Oxidation as a Demonstration of Oxygen in the l. A modulardemonstrator for demonstrating a plurality of nature phenomena andscientific principles. said demonstrator comprising a base member:

a transparent cylindrical tube supported in substantially uprightposition by the base member and having a plurality of bores formedtherethrought at different points thereof and a plurality of petcockseach accommodate in a corresponding one of the bores. the tube having apredetermined diameter and a volume of water therein:

.a substantially pressure-tight cover on the open end of the tube;

variable pressure means for selectively varying the pressure of air overthe .volume of water in the tube: and

a pressure-sensitive capsule of smaller diameter than the tube andhaving a volume of dyed water therein. said capsule freely floating inthe water in the tube.

2. A modular demonstrator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsulecomprises an inverted test tube having a membrane affixed over andsealing its open mouth.

3. A modular demonstrator as claimed in claim I. wherein the variablepressure means comprises a substantially flexible air tube affixed atone erid to a petcock over the volume of water in the tube and aflexible bulb affixed to the other end of the air tube.

1. A modular demonstrator for demonstrating a plurality of naturephenomena and scientific principles, said demonstrator comprising a basemember; a transparent cylindrical tube supported in substantiallyupright position by the base member and having a plurality of boresformed therethrought at different points thereof and a plurality ofpetcocks each accommodate in a corresponding one of the bores, the tubehaving a predetermined diameter and a volume of water therein; asubstantially pressure-tight cover on the open end of the tube; variablepressure means for selectively varying the pressure of air over thevolume of water in the tube; and a pressure-sensitive capsule of smallerdiameter than the tube and having a volume of dyed water therein, saidcapsule freely floating in the water in the tube.
 1. A modulardemonstrator for demonstrating a plurality of nature phenomena andscientific principles, said demonstrator comprising a base member; atransparent cylindrical tube supported in substantially upright positionby the base member and having a plurality of bores formed therethroughtat different points thereof and a plurality of petcocks each accommodatein a corresponding one of the bores, the tube having a predetermineddiameter and a volume of water therein; a substantially pressure-tightcover on the open end of the tube; variable pressure means forselectively varying the pressure of air over the volume of water in thetube; and a pressure-sensitive capsule of smaller diameter than the tubeand having a volume of dyed water therein, said capsule freely floatingin the water in the tube.
 2. A modular demonstrator as claimed in claim1, wherein the capsule comprises an inverted test tube having a membraneaffixed over and sealing its open mouth.